Seed-corn separator.



PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

0. L. PRISBY.

SEED CORN SEPARA'I'OR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 190 5.

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6 w J u n n H 14 0 r 2 a m m m J\\ M U. a L I V w H rn H n n n n u TESATES PATENT OFFICE.

SEED-CORN SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1906.

Application filed May 9,1905. $eria1 N0. 259,5 98.

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs LEE FnIsBY, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Council Bluffs, in the county of PottawattamieandState of Iowa, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements inSeed- Corn Separators, of which the following is a clear, full, andexact description, such as will enable those skilled in the art to whichthey appertain to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in seed-cornseparators, and aims to provide a device of this type in which inclinedand parallel spaced rolls are employed, the space between the adjacentrolls forming passage-ways for the kernels of grain, such space betweeneach pair of adja* cent rolls increasing in regular successivevariations from the point at which the grain is fed, thus constitutingpassage-ways of varying sizes, which permit the varying sizes of kernelsto fall therethrough in successive order of increase during theirgravitating action.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of referencedenote similar parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a topplan view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a section through the feed-hopper online 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is acentral longitudinal section, and Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of one ofthe adjustable journal-blocks in which the roll ends are journaled.

The machine is disposed upon a supporting structure embodying verticalstandards 1, suitably connected at their lower portions by virtue ofbars 2. The machine body is formed of side sections 3, which inclinedownwardly and which are rigidly secured to the upper portions of thevertical standards 2, the latter terminating at the upper edge of theside sections. Side sections 3 are con nected at their upper and lowerextremities by end sections 4 and 5.

To the upper and lower ends of the respective end sections 4 and 5spaced parallel cleats 4" and 5 are secured, adjustable journal-blocks 4and 5 being mounted between said cleats and constituting bearings forthe reduced ends 6 of the inclined rolls. As

shown in the drawings, four of these rolls are employed, (designated 7,8, 9, and 10,) it being permissible to employ a less or greater number,according to the amount of grain being separated and the speed at whichseparation is desired. The alternately-arranged rolls in this instance 8and 10-are reduced in diameter at corresponding successive intervalsthroughout their length, as at 8* and 8 and 10 and 10, the adjacentrolls 7 and 9 possessing the same diameter throughout their entirelength, as shown. By this arrangement of alternately-disposed reducedrolls the distance between each pair of adjacent rolls is increased inproportion as the diameter of one of the rolls is decreased.

For the purpose of agitating the kernels to facilitate the gravitatingaction thereof, as well as to assist the movement of the kernels throughthe several interstices between the rolls, shaker-arms 11, correspondingin numher to the rolls, are rigidly secured at one end to the reducedends 6 of said rolls and at their other ends to a transverse bar 12,provided with upper and lower spaced parallel cleats 12*, between whichjournal-blocks 12 for the reception of the reduced ends 13 of saidshaker-arms 11 are adjustably mounted. An operating-handle 14 iscentrally mounted upon bar 12, whereby rotating the handle will impart alike motion to the shflker-arms, and consequently rotate the re s Theend section 5 and the transverse bar 12 are provided with a series ofhorizontal slots 5 and 12, one for each roll, and through which therespective reduced ends 6 of the rolls and the reduced ends 13 of theshaker-arms extend in order that the said reduced ends may have alimited transverse movement in said end section and transverse bar whenthe journal-blocks 5 are moved to either side in changing the relativepositions of the rolls. The journal-blocks may be retained in adjustedposition by any suitable means, such as set-screws or thumb-nuts.

The invention involves the separation of the kernels into varyingdivisions, the kernels in each division possessing uniformity in size,and to this end a separate chute is provided and disposed beneath theseveral various-sized interstices existing between the aforementionedrolls which form passageways, as previously set out. Each chute(severally indicated at 16, 17, and 18) em bodies in its structure endmembers, to each successive pair of which the side sections 3 of themachine-body contribute a common side member. End members 16 17 and 18are inclined to a less degree as compared with end members 16', 17 and18 the latter each having a portion of the material thereof at the upperend disposed to lie at an angle to the major portion thereof, as at 16",17 and 18, thus constituting a means of support therefor in conjunctionwith bars 15 and 15, which are disposed transverse of the body and aresecured by their ends to the side sections 3. The side sections 3 areprovided adjacent the chutes with downward extensions coacting with theend members of the chutes and corresponding in contour to the boundarydefined by said inclined end members of the chutes to form the latter.The said end members of the chutes are preferably formed of sheet metal.End members 16 and 18* are secured to the cleats 4 and 5 of therespective adjacent end sections 4 and 5. The respective pair ofadjacent end members 16 and 17 and 17 b and 18 are secured to theadjacent transverse bar 15, which abuts both,

' the angular portions 16 and 17 of chutes 16 and 17, end members 16 and17 thereof seating on the upper face of the said bars 15.

Should any kernels of the grain at the completion of travel throughoutthe length of the rolls be of such size as to to be incapable of passagethrough the interstices of varying sizes between the rolls, they willegress through enlarged openings 19, disposed in alinement with theinterstices, said openings being for this express purpose of freeing themachine of kernels of such size, the accommodation for which the machinelacks.

The grain is let into the machine at the highest point of theinclination of the rolls. For this purpose a hopper 20 is employedsuitably supported upon the machine-body from the end 5 and the sides 3.The said hopper directly overlies the rolls and carries a series ofprojecting plates 21, corresponding in number and arrangement to therolls, and preferably being of concave curvature at their lower corners21, the function of which plates is to gage and regulate the feed andsize of the kernels which are let into the separating mechanism. Theplates are adjustably retained upon the side of the hopper by means ofslots 21*, formed therein, and screws 21*, engaging the hopper side.

As an additional aid in facilitating the separation of the kernels Iprolong the chute end members 17 and 18 upwardly, as at 22 and 22 resectively, to permit the same to proj ect in t e path of the kernels intheir gravitating movement along the inclined passageways formed by theinterstices between the rolls in order that any grain which possessessufficient size to partially lodge between said rolls without passingthrough between the same may be caught by said extensions and preventedfrom entering other than their proper chute.

The operation may be briefly summed up as follows: The handle 14 and thecommon connecting-bar 12 are given rotary movement, thus causing therolls to have a rotary movement and the grain having been placed intothe hopper will gravitate throughout the length of the rolls until itarrives at its prop er destination, at which point it will be let intoits hopper. Thus kernels of small size are admitted to chute 18, kernelsof medium size to chute 17, and kernels of large size to chute 16,kernels of extra large size being allowed to egress through openings 19.The action is simple, involving a gravitating movement supplemented by arotating one to agitate the grain and the egress of the kernels ofvarying sizes when arriving at their proper chute.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters'Patent, is

1. In a machine for separating seed-corn and the like, the combinationwith the frame or body, a series of rolls arranged in parallel andspaced relation and disposed at an incline Within said frame or body,said rolls being adjustable and formed with decreasing graduations indiameters to form passageways therebetween, chutes disposed beneath saidrolls and having portions thereof proj ecting upwardly into saidpassageways, and feed-hopper plates carried by said hopper andprojecting inwardly toward aforesaid rolls, aforesaid frame or bodyhaving openings therein at its lowest end in alinement with thepassage-ways formed by and be tween aforesaid rolls, and means forrotating said rolls, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Amachine of the typeset forth embodying a series of rolls arranged inparallel and spaced relation and disposed at an incline, said rollsbeing formed with successively-decreasing graduations in diameters, anda delivery-chute for each of the said graduations, said chutes having aportion thereof extended upwardly to project in the passage-ways formedbetween said rolls.

3. Amachine of the typeset forth, embody ing a series of rolls arrangedat an incline and spaced apart to form passage-ways therebetween, andchutes disposed beneath said rolls and'having portions thereofprojecting seems W ing openings therein at its end in alinement with thepassage-Ways formed by and between said rolls.

5. In a machine of the ty e set forth, a body, a series of rolls mountein spaced and parallel relation therein, said body having extensions onits side members, end members secured to said body and coaoting Withsaid extensions to form chutes, said forward end of the members havingangular portions, IO and bars for securing said angular portions, saidangular portions seating on said bars.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES LEE FRISBY. Witnesses:

GRAoE M. ROWLAND, CHAS. H. VoN MANsFELnE.

